They breakfasted well. Alistair and Renya wolfed down as much food as they could lay their hands on, much to the amusement of Morrigan and Leliana. Even Sten looked impressed.
"I did not think humans possessed the appetite of the Beresaad," he rumbled. "I continue to be intrigued by your behaviors."
"Warden appetite," Alistair said through a mouthful of food.
"I never used to eat so much in a whole day, let alone in one meal," Renya observed, spooning eggs into her mouth. She scraped the remainng bits of food off the plate, looking disappointed.
"More?" Leliana offered, extending her hand. Renya nodded sheepishly. Leliana took the Warden's bowl and returned a few minutes later with two more plates piled high with food, setting them in front of the Wardens.
"Ma serannas, Leliana," Renya said, pulling the plate closer.
"Maker, this is delicious," Alistair mumbled, tucking in. "Thank you," he added, glancing up. A couple heaping mouthfuls later, he looked up again. "Mm, that reminds me," he said, swallowing. "Teagan said he knows a way in to the castle. We're to meet him up where we spoke with Ser Perth yesterday," he said, glancing around the table.
Renya nodded. A woman came by and plopped a few glasses of milk in front of the little party. The elf drank deeply, then put it down in disgust.
"Ugh, what is this?"
"Milk," Alistair said in disbelief. "Don't elves drink milk?"
"Goat milk, or halla milk, sometimes," she said. "But this is neither."
"Ferelden has many cows," Leliana supplied helpfully.
"Cow's milk? Interesting," Renya said, studying it. Shrugging, she took another drink. She put the glass down, her face less disgusted than before. "So we are to storm the castle today?"
"If by 'storm' you mean 'sneak in by some secret passage that Teagan knows about,' then yes," Alistair said, wiping his mouth.
"Oh. Well that is just about the same thing, yes?"
The Wardens finally finished eating. Renya rose to pay the bill, but the serving woman waved her off.
"Bann Teagan has already paid for your meals, as thanks for your help last night, Ser Warden," she said to Renya politely, curtseying. Renya watched, taken aback.
"Thank you," she said, surprised. The woman smiled.
"Thank you, ser. You have helped save us. I bid you good day." And she went to help another customer.
"Your uncle must have been busy, spreading the word that the Dalish elf is not the unholy terror that so many seem to think we are," Renya commented as they exited the inn.
"It couldn't have been your fighting last night, no. That couldn't possibly be it. Or that you helped save the town," Alistair replied, rolling his eyes. Renya smacked him on the arm and he laughed. They walked to the perch overlooking the town and found Teagan there, staring out over the village anxiously.
"Ah, Alistair, you've arrived. I hope your rest and breakfast were to your liking?" he asked with a smile. His eyes darted to Renya and his smile widened. "And good morning to you, Renya. It is good to see you." He reached out his hand and Renya offered hers, remembering the gesture from the previous afternoon. She watched with amusement as he brought her hand up to his lips again.
"And you, Teagan," she replied, suppressing a smile and ignoring Leliana's disappointed look. "Alistair said you've found a way in?"
Teagan suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Yes, it's a secret passage through that windmill," he said softly. "My signet ring opens the passage…"
"Your ring opens…? You knew about this already?" Renya asked incredulously. The bann sighed.
"I did," he said slowly. "But we greatly needed the help of the Wardens last night, and I thought if you knew, you would abandon us and enter the castle, leaving us to our doom."
"We wouldn't have done that, Teagan," Alistair said, but Teagan was looking at Renya.
The elf was fiddling with the ring on her finger. She sighed. "We would not have. But I suppose we keep secrets for our own purposes, don't we?" Her ear twitched as she heard Leliana make a little sound in the back of her throat, and saw her stiffen out of the corner of her eye. She turned her attention back to the bann, deciding to not worry about the enigmatic lay sister right now.
"You are… most gracious, Renya, and…" Teagan began, but whatever he was about to say was cut off.
"Teagan! There you are!" A woman and a guard were running toward them. Renya noticed with some interest that her accent was Orlesian, although much thicker than Leliana's and, Renya admitted, not nearly as pleasant to listen to.
"Thank the Maker you are alive!" she said, throwing her arms around him.
"Isolde!" he said with some surprise. "What has happened? How did you get out of the castle?"
"Teagan, I don't have much time to explain," she said, letting go of him and staring at the castle forlornly. "I slipped away as soon as I saw the battle was over, but must return quickly, or I will be missed. And…" she lowered her voice to a soft murmur and leaned in to Teagan. Renya arched an eyebrow; she was still able to hear her speak very clearly. "I need you to come with me, Teagan. Alone. And right away."
"This does not seem like a very good idea," Renya said, startling the arlessa and Teagan. She smiled innocently, but cheekily pricked up her ears all the same.
"What?" Isolde said, turning on Renya with an ugly look on her face. She swept her eyes up and down the elf until they settled briefly, as always, on the markings on Renya's forehead. "Who is this…" she scoffed "…woman, Teagan?"
"You remember me, Lady Isolde?" Alistair said, stepping forward. He sounded as enthusiastic as when they had first met the bann.
"Alistair?" she said. She withdrew, shaking her head. "Of all the… what are you doing here?"
"These are Grey Wardens," Teagan explained patiently, shooting an apologetic look at Renya and Alistair both. "I owe them my life."
"Your pardon," Isolde said, not sounding like she meant it. "I would exchange pleasantries, but…"
"Lady Isolde," Renya began. "We had no idea anyone was alive in the castle. We need to know what happened."
Isolde looked at her disdainfully. She turned to Alistair. "I know you need an explanation, but I do not know what is safe to tell." The arlessa looked back at Teagan. "There is a… great evil inside the castle. The dead have risen and attacked. We have captured the mage responsible, but the horrors have not ended."
Suddenly her face broke and she looked desperate. "And I think… Connor may be going mad. We have survived, but he will not leave the castle. He has seen so much death…" she said vaguely. "Teagan, you must help him," she said putting her hand on the man's shoulder. "You are his uncle. You could talk with him, bring reason to him!"
"There is something wrong here. I do not think you are giving us the whole story," Renya said, narrowing her eyes. Isolde rounded on her, suddenly angry.
"Why, of all the insolent things to say!" she spat at her. "You are quite impertinent for an elf, dressed as you are, flaunting your swords like you are as good as a human."
Renya clenched her jaw, and her fists followed suit. As good as a human? Renya fumed to herself. What was so great about humans, anyway?
"Lady Isolde," Leliana said, stepping in front of Renya. "If we are going to enter the castle, we must know all of what is happening."
"In that case, I advise you learn to control your elf. Such brazenness is not becoming of them." She looked around Leliana to where Renya stood glaring at her. "I would suggest a collar. And perhaps a leash. At times I have found them most helpful."
Renya lunged at Isolde, grabbing her hunting knife. She had barely begun to draw it when Leliana jumped in front of her and grabbed her shoulders and Alistair stuck his arm out in front of her to keep her from pouncing on the arlessa. Morrigan surveyed the arlessa with contempt as Renya tried to push past Leliana's hands, snarling at Isolde in Dalish.
"'Tis a strange thing," Morrigan said evenly. "That you would insist on insulting the one who has saved your precious town and is willing to risk her safety for your family. Are all Fereldens so ungrateful?"
"I am fine, Leliana, I am fine," Renya muttered sharply, stopping her fighting. Leliana finally let go of her.
Alistair lowered his arm, too. "And you expect us to help you after that?" he said angrily, glaring at Isolde. His use of the word "us" didn't go unnoticed on Renya.
"Please," Isolde said, her tone suddenly different. "There is something evil in the castle, and it has taken my husband and child hostage! I came here seeking help!" she cried.
"I will go with you, Isolde," Teagan said. Renya looked at him incredulously.
"And what will that accomplish, other than giving this evil another prisoner?" she asked, glaring at Isolde. He smiled at her sadly.
"This is my family," he said. "I must help them. Here." He took the signet ring off his finger and handed it to Renya. "Take my ring and go through the passage. Meet us at the castle."
"You would trust this el-… these people," Isolde amended, "with something so important, Teagan?"
"I trust her, and them, with my life," he said seriously. Isolde shook her head and began to walk away. "Do not tarry, please," he whispered as he followed his sister-in-law.
"Dareth shiral, falon," she replied. "Be safe, Teagan. We will see you soon." The bann smiled and walked back down the hill.
Renya decided that she was not fond of dungeons. They were damp and dark and held too many secrets for her liking.
"And humans keep other humans in these things?" she asked. They had passed through three hallways that had hollowed-out areas in the wall with large iron grating in in front of them. Alistair had called them "cells." Some of the cells had chains hanging from the ceilings.
"Yes," Alistair said. "Generally if you hurt someone, or break a law, you wind up here, at least for a while."
Renya noticed that Leliana was looking more and more uncomfortable the further in they walked. The elf fell back to talk to her. But Leliana was staring straight ahead, blinking furiously and shaking her head often, as if trying to clear her thoughts. Renya also noticed that Leliana had one of her daggers drawn, although they had not come across a monster since they first began their trek through the damp stone hallways. The blade was shaking.
The Warden sidled up next to her. "Are you alright-whoa!" She jumped back as the handsome silverite blade came up. She grabbed Leliana's wrist before the knife reached her throat. "Leliana," she said sharply. "Are you okay?"
Leliana blinked. "I'm sorry, Warden. I forget you are so quiet. I'm a little jumpy down here."
Renya sighed at the continued use of her title. "I've noticed." The poor lay sister looked terrified, her eyes haunted. Renya released her hand.
"Everything okay?" Alistair called from the front.
"Yes, we are fine. Just… big spider. It startled me," Renya called back, grimacing at the poor excuse. She looked over her shoulder and saw Morrigan looking at her curiously. The Warden shook her head meaningfully, and the witch turned on her heel and followed the rest of the group. Turning back to Leliana, Renya gently took the dagger from her shaking hand and replaced it in its scabbard. Leliana grabbed her wrist tightly, not looking at her.
"I do not know what has you so afraid," Renya said quietly, patting her hand. "But I will not let anything down here harm you."
"I can… I can take care of myself, Warden. You don't need to worry about me," Leliana replied. The crack in her voice betrayed her. Renya shook her head.
"Just stay close to me. Are you frightened?" she asked. After all, Leliana had been troubled by nightmares after the horrors of the fight last night. "I will fight off any monsters we come across," she added reassuringly when the lay sister didn't respond.
Even the ones in my mind? Leliana thought horribly. If only you knew…
They walked on. As they passed a door, Renya paused. She thought she heard sobbing coming from behind the wood. Leliana looked at the elf curiously.
"You do not hear that?" Renya asked. Leliana shook her head. "Alistair, wait."
The group came to a stop as Renya picked the lock to the room. As the door swung open, something large flew past her head, followed by a scream.
"Whoa! Whoa! I will not hurt you!" Renya said, showing her empty hands to the woman standing in the room. The woman was holding a piece of a broken crate, poised to throw it at the elf. She relaxed a little.
"You're not… one of them?" she asked.
Renya shook her head. "Are you Valena?" she asked.
"How did you know?"
"Your father is looking for you," Renya replied with a smile. "We have cleared a path, you can leave that way," she added, pointing back the way they came.
"My father? Thank you so much! I've been hiding in here for so long. There are monsters in here…" Valena said with a shudder.
"You are safe now. You can make it out and go home," Renya said, stepping aside. Valena curtseyed to her before exiting.
"Thank you! Maker's blessings on you!" She ran down the hall toward the windmill entrance as fast as she could. Soon the echoes of her footsteps faded.
"Well that's nice," Alistair said evenly. "Owen will be pleased."
"Shall we continue?" Morrigan called from down the hall.
They continued through the stone corridors, the only sounds around them being their own footsteps and the occasional drip of water falling to the dirty floor. Renya noticed with some concern how close Leliana was walking. Their shoulders were brushing, and Leliana's jaw was set, her eyes wide and staring.
"We are almost there," Renya said soothingly, hoping it was true. The sister nodded curtly.
A scream pierced through the silence, and they all jumped. Leliana groped for the elf's arm to steady herself. The screaming continued.
"Maker preserve me," she whispered. Renya glanced at her and covered her hand with her own.
The group hurried forward and found a group of waking dead attacking a man locked in a cell. The sight of the monsters seemed to steel the Chantry sister, who let go of Renya and pulled out her bow, fitting an arrow with practiced ease. Within such close quarters, the corpses were soon overpowered. Renya walked up to the cell to investigate.
"Maker's blessing on you!" the man cried. "I thought they were going to get me."
"Who are you?" Renya asked.
"My name is Jowan, I'm a mage from the Circle," he said.
"What's a mage of the Circle doing in Arl Eamon's dungeon?" Alistair asked, crossing his arms. Jowan sighed.
"Isolde sent me to tutor Connor, but… things started going wrong, and…"
"You're the one who started all this?" Alistair shook his head. "Come on, we're leaving."
"Wait!" he cried. "I was only sent to kill the Arl, not resurrect any corpses. Why would they be attacking me if I was their master?"
"Because blood magic is harmful and unpredictable," Alistair said as if explaining to a child. "That's why it's forbidden."
"You were sent to kill the arl?" Renya interjected. "By whom?"
Jowan took a deep breath, shaking his head. "Loghain. Well, really, Rendon Howe, his right-hand. But Isolde was looking for someone to tutor Connor in secret, and I capitalized on the opportunity…"
"You were tutoring the boy?" Morrigan asked with interest. "I am surprised a human did not simply send him to the Circle. Do humans train apostates, now?"
"No, no," Jowan said, shaking his head. "Connor showed signs, but Isolde didn't want him to be taken from her. I was to just teach him to control his power. But something… happened. I don't know what. He became so powerful."
"So you are telling me a little boy did all of this?" Renya asked flatly.
"Yes. Well, no. It wasn't a formal training, so he must have…he must have made contact with a demon in the Fade," Jowan said, lowering his voice.
The little group stared at him.
"So what you are saying," Renya said, trying to keep her voice even, "is that you were sent here to poison Arl Eamon. By lucky circumstance a little boy needed to be tutored in magic so his overbearing mother would not lose him, and there is now a demon living in the boy causing all these problems?"
"Yes," Jowan said simply.
The elf shook her head and turned to Morrigan. "Is this really something that can happen?"
"'Tis possible," Morrigan said. "If the boy did not possess the skill to control his power, there is no telling what could have happened."
"I say we kill him," Alistair said, glaring at the imprisoned mage.
Jowan shrugged. "It's what the arlessa wants for me. But I want to help. I've made a mistake – many, actually. But I want to help Connor! He's just a boy, and doesn't deserve what is happening to him."
"You poisoned Eamon and gave a little boy enough rope to hang himself with, and you expect us to just let you go?" Alistair asked incredulously.
"He could come with us," Renya suggested. "If there is a demon in the castle, we could use all magical help we can get. Merrill... the first of my clan, said it is best to have more mages on hand when dealing with demons."
"He wants to atone," Leliana said gently from the back. "I say we give him this chance."
"I must actually agree with the Chantry sister," Morrigan added. "He could provide useful information once we are inside the castle."
"Fine, fine," Alistair grumbled, waving his hand. Renya stepped forward and picked the lock easily, swinging the door open.
"I am in your debt," the mage said. "And will serve you until this is all over and my punishment is decided."
The remainder of the journey through the dungeon was uneventful. Upon breaking through the door to the castle, which was barred, the party found themselves surrounded by walking corpses and lesser demons. It was a long battle from the dungeon to the throne room, and when they finally arrived they were exhausted and covered in blood.
In front of a large fireplace was a young boy with yellow hair and blue eyes. Isolde stood next to him, looking sad. Bann Teagan, meanwhile, was performing acrobatic tricks in front of the boy, before sitting next to him like a dog.
"What… is it, mother?" the boy asked. Something about his voice was wrong. It was much too deep for a little boy.
Isolde looked at her son sadly. "It's an elf, Connor. You remember elves…?"
"Of course I remember!" he said with glee. "I cut their ears off and gave them to the dogs! They chewed and chewed and chewed for hours!" he added happily.
Renya's ears twitched impulsively.
"So, Mother," the child said. "Should I send this one to the kennels?"
"Connor!" Isolde looked at her son with tears running down her cheeks. "Please… don't hurt anyone!"
"M-mother?" Suddenly the boy's voice sounded normal. His posture was different, too. But Renya saw something behind his eyes, still lurking. "Wh-what's happening, Mother?"
"Connor! Thank the Maker!" his mother cried, reaching out to him. But the boy's eyes changed and he backhanded the woman, sending her to the floor.
"Don't touch me, you foolish woman. You are beginning to bore me."
"This is the evil force? It truly lives inside a boy?" Renya muttered.
"Don't say that!" Isolde was frantic. "Connor didn't mean to do this. He just wanted to help his father…"
"It was a fair deal," the demon inside Connor said. "Father is alive, and now I can sit on the throne and send out my armies to conquer the world. Nobody tells me what to do!"
"Nobody tells him what to do!" Teagan echoed with a lilting voice. "Nobody! Ha ha ha ha. Nobody tells him what to do!"
"Shut up, Uncle! I warned you what would happen if you kept yelling," he said, and kicked the bann. "But let's keep things civil. You, elf. What is it that you want?"
"I want you to leave this little boy and go back to the banal'ras where you came from," Renya said with a growl.
"No! I am not finished playing yet!" the boy yelled in his deep, throaty voice. "You spoil my sport by killing my men. Now you must repay me!"
And with that, the guards and Teagan sprang up against the Wardens and their company.
"Don't kill them!" Alistair shouted. It was easier said than done.
Teagan lunged at Renya.
"Ir abelas. I am so sorry," she said as she twisted around him and bashed the pommel of her sword onto the back of his head, knocking him unconscious. Very soon the demon's puppets lay on the ground.
"Where's Connor?" Renya asked, looking around wildly.
"Teagan!" Isolde cried, running toward the bann. He was pulling himself off the floor, groaning and rubbing the back of his head. "Andraste's mercy, I would never have forgiven myself if you had been hurt!"
"I am much better now for not being under a demon's control," he said weakly. He looked at Renya, still rubbing his head. "My thanks to you, Renya."
"Any time," Renya said with some amusement. He smiled.
"Please," Isolde said, turning to Renya. "You can't kill him. He is not responsible for his actions. He is still in there, somewhere. I just know it!"
"What are our options?" Renya asked, turning to Morrigan.
"There is a spell I could perform," Jowan offered, stepping forward.
"You?" Isolde spluttered. "How did you get out of the dungeon?"
"I let him out, actually," Renya said. Isolde spun on her for the second time that morning, her eyes popping.
"You? He is to blame for all of this! He's-"
"He has as much blame in this as you do," the elf replied testily.
Isolde's eyes narrowed. "How dare you…"
"She is right, Isolde," said the bann. "Your secrecy brought Jowan here. If Connor had received the education he needed, this would not be happening."
"But… but I…" The woman collapsed into the bann's arms, sobbing.
"I know what you must think of me, my lady," Jowan began. "But please, let me help fix this if I can. Allow me to make up for what I did."
His only response was a strangled scream from Isolde, whose face was buried in Teagan's chest.
The Warden sighed and turned to Jowan. "You were saying?"
"It's a blood magic ritual…" he began, hesitating. "I can fight the demon and there is a chance I could beat him, but it would require… blood," he finished. The mage looked around uncomfortably. "A lot of blood…"
"How much blood?" Renya asked slowly.
"… all the blood in a human body."
An uncomfortable silence followed this statement. Renya turned to Morrigan helplessly.
"I have heard of this," she said. "But it requires a willing sacrifice…"
"I'll do it," Isolde said suddenly, pulling away from her brother-in-law. "It is my fault that Connor is like this. I would do anything to keep my son alive."
"No." Renya's voice rung around the hallway. "No more people should die for this demon. There must be another way."
"I don't know…" Jowan began.
"Well, think. And quickly. My patience is running thin."
"It would require a lot of mages and lyrium, and we only have access to two mages, and have no lyrium on hand…" he replied, shaking his head.
"We have to go to the Circle Tower anyway, to have the mages fulfill their agreement, do we not?" Renya asked Alistair. "Could we just ask them to send some mages here, too?"
"'Tis over a month's journey to travel there and back," Morrigan said. "Will the village be safe with the demon child for that long?"
"If that is your wish, I will stay with him and be able to control him. I am sure of it," Jowan offered.
Renya rubbed her vallaslin. It would be easier and faster to just use the spell that Jowan suggested, but, as much as she detested Isolde, the woman didn't deserve to die. And how could she kill that poor boy's mother? She sighed. And Jowan hadn't even guaranteed that he could beat the demon, anyway.
"We will go to the Tower," Renya finally said. "I want as many options as possible. He is only a da'len, after all."
"Thank you," Isolde said. Renya raised her hand to comfort Isolde, but she flinched, so Renya withdrew again.
"We will replenish our supplies and leave right away," she said. She looked at the bann.
"We will forever be in your debt," Teagan replied with a smile.